Two-piece key and extractor



Aug. 29, 1967 TWO-PIECE KEY AND EXTRACTOR E. EBERITCH ETAL Filed Feb. 18, 1965 3 25 Z ii 7 [/7 van fors:

--/i Ken/riff? 1?. Nelson 1 6.5/12 Pope M flaw United States Patent Ofiice 3,338,078 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,338,078 TWO-PIECE KEY AND EXTRACTOR Ernest Eberitch, Burlingame, Calif., and Kenneth R. Nelson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, and Leslie Pope, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, assignors to Schlage Lock Company, a corporation Filed Feb. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 433,745 4 Claims. (Cl. 70-428) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The key tip and the extractor overlap and together occupy substantially all of the keyway and the hook flexes into the slot and moves over the upper surface of the key tip until the hook enters the notch and interengages the key tip and the extractor, following which the key tip is withdrawn from the keyway by and with the extractor.

Our invention relates to a lock unit construction especially designed for use in connection with a pin tumbler cylinder unit and effective under one condition to exclude all but specially prepared keys or tools andunder another condition to permit the use of the normal keys for the lock. The change from one condition to the other is accomplished without the necessity of deforming lock unit parts or of having disposal mechanism within the lock unit for superseded parts.

In many instances it is advisable to condition a lock unit so that none of the standard keys which might ordinarily enter the lock unit can do so until the lock condition is properly changed. This is referred to as a shutout feature. Also, there are instances in which it is advisable to condition a lock unit so that the key which ultimately and regularly operates the lock unit cannot and need not be initially utilized. This is referred to as a construction feature. Particularly during the construction period of a project, it may be helpful to have the permanent, pin tumbler lock units installed early in the job and to supply keys other than the permanent keys to the workmen. The temporary or primary keys serve during the course of construction, but when the job is delivered to the owner the secondary or permanent keys in some fashion are made effective and the primary or temporary keys are made ineffective.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a lock unit that can be conditioned to shut out all regular keys and that can be conditioned to operate with primary keys only until changed to operate with secondary or regular keys only.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock unit in which a substantially standard pin tumbler cylinder unit is utilized and the entire structure for providing the shut-out feature and providing the construction feature is involved very largely with parts entering the keyway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock unit in which the shut-out feature excludes all keys and is nullified entirely without changes in the pin tumbler cylinder unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pin tumbler cylinder unit having a shut-out or construction key feature which can readily be changed from time to time to have those features or to operate normally.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved lock unit having multiple keying features with an exclusion of certain keys when desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved lock unit.

Other objects together with the foregoing are attained in the embodiment of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross section on a central, median plane through a pin tumbler cylinder unit pursuant to the invention, a primary or temporary construction key being shown in elevation and in operating position;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation, the view being taken from the plane 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view comparable to FIGURE 1 but showing the lock unit conditioned to exclude secondary or regular keys from entry into the keyway;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a key base or a primary or temporary key removed from the lock unit;

FIGURE 5 is a View comparable to FIGURE 1, but showing a key extractor in position for removing a key p;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of a key extractor removed from the lock unit; and

FIGURE 7 is a view comparable to FIGURE 1, but showing in side elevation a secondary or permanent key in position to actuate the lock unit.

While the lock unit of the invention can be embodied in a number of different ways and can be arranged to take into account various pin tumbler cylinder units, it has successfully been incorporated in the form shown herein. It is to be understood that the disclosed lock unit is usually installed as part of a standard lock set and that the parts of the lock set not illustrated nor described herein are immaterial to an understanding of the invention embodiment.

Our lock unit includes a cylinder body 6 having a circular cylindrical portion and having an extension 7. The body has a circular cylindrical bore 8 symmetrical about a longitudinal axis 9. Rotatable within the bore 8 about the axis 9 is a cylinder plug 11. This is circular cylindrical on the outside and turns freely. At one end the plug 11 has a radially outstanding flange 12 bearing against the end of the cylinder body to constrain axial motion of the plug in one direction. At the other end the plug 11 has threads 13 receiving a cylinder cap 14 constraining movement of the plug 11 in an axial direction and confining the plate portion 16 of a driver bar 17. The plate portion 16 may act as an end closure or stop, but in some lock units a hardened, separate disk'18 is seated within the end of the plug. This may also act as a closure or end stop. In some cases a pin 19 in the plug 11 acts alone or with the plate 16 or the disk 18 or both as an end stop. The assembly is such that when the plug 11 is rotated, the non-circular driver bar 17 is likewise rotated to effect the operation of the lock set in the usual way.

The plug 11 is pierced substantially from end to end to define a keyway 21. In cross section throughout and in end elevation, the keyway is of irregular configuration, its shape being in part defined by a number of longitudinally extending ridges 22 and grooves 23 in the customary fashion. The keyway 21 has its lower margin coextensive with the interior surface of the bore 8 except that it is enlarged on one side within the flange 12. The keyway has its other side margin defined by a wall 24 approximately parallel to the exposed surface of the bore 8. There is thus provided a keyway having a predetermined, fixed limit as to transverse dimensions throughout most of its length,

having a number of longitudinally extending ridges and grooves, and extending for the entire length of the plug.

Designed to be in precise alignment in one position of the plug are transverse bores 26 located in the cylinder body and transverse bores 27 in the plug 11. These bores 26 and 27 are designed to receive a number of tumbler pins 28 and 29, respectively, pressed in one direction by coil springs 31 in the extension 7. The various tumbler pins 29 are arranged so that they extend far into the keyway unless stopped. A common shear line 32 adjacent the wall of the bore 8 is established by one arrangement of the various tumbler pins 28 and 29. When the shear line 32 is established, but not otherwise, the cylinder plug 11 can be rotated about the axis 9 with respect to the cylinder body. If any one of the tumbler pins 28 or 29 is displaced to span the shear line between the plug and the body, the plug cannot be rotated and the lock is then secure. The mechanism as so far described is almost entirely standard and does not substantially depart from regular practice.

The lock unit can be appropriately actuated by a secondary key 36 (FIGURE 7) of the customary sort. This key has a bow 37 and a shank 40. In cros section, the shank 40 is complementary to the cross section of the keyway 21. In length, the shank occupies substantially the entire keyway, the inner tip of the key substantially abutting the wafer 18 or the pin 19, or both. The secondary or permanent key 36 is substantially straight along the lower edge 38 of the shank to abut and rotate on the inside surface of the bore 8. The other edge of the key shank 40 is serrated or provided with a contoured portion 39 appropriately to engage the tumbler pins 29 so that when the key is fully inserted there will be an appropriate shear line.

Pursuant to the invention, there is provided a special key arrangement. As particularly shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 5, a key tip 41 is provided for introduction into the keyway 21. This is a section of rigid material having throughout a cross section complementary to the configuration of the keyway 21. That is, the key tip has complementary, longitudinal grooves and ridges closely to interfit with the grooves 23 and ridges 22 so that the key tip is accurately positioned and guided within the keyway. The key tip has no transverse motion, toward or away from the surface of the bore 8, except as required for normal manufacturing tolerances and for easy sliding movement of the kep tip in the direction of the axis 9. The key tip along one edge 42 is entirely straight just like the lower edge 38 and is intended to ride upon the surface of the bore 8 in the same fashion. Opposite one'part of the edge 42 the key tip is provided with a contoured portion 44 or a serrated edge of appropriate configuration to control one, two or more (in the present instance, two) tumbler pins 29 to locate them at the shear line. An another part, the key tip is defined by a transverse surface 46 disposed axially between adjacent tumbler pins 29.

The key tip has a further portion 47 extending longitudinally. This not only continues the lower straight edge 42, but also has a straight or flat upper surface 48 underlying 'but spaced from the remaining ones of the tumbler pins 29 and facing them. Between one end of the upwardly facing surface 48 and the transverse surface 46, the key tip has a catch 49 in the nature of a groove or notch having a transveresly extending wall 51.

Cooperating with the key tip is a key base 61 (FIG- URES 1 and 4) having the customary operating bow 62 and having a relatively short shank 63. The shank 63 in cross section is complementary to the keyway 21 and is in effect a continuation of the cross section of the key tip. Along a part of its length the bottom of the key base has a downwardly facing surface .64 designed to slide on and abut the upwardly facing surface 48 of the key tip. The opposite edge of the key base has a contoured portion 66 serrated to position at the shear line the remaining tumbler pins 29 not controlled by the key tip 41. The bottom surface 64 is approximately coextensive with the surface 48 of the key tip so that when the end surface 67 of the key base is close to or in abutment with the surface 46 of the key tip, all the various serrated or contoured portions, within manufacturing limits, precisely position their respective tumbler pins. With this arrangement, that is to say, with both the key tip and the key base in position in the keyway, the operation of the lock unit is the same as it is with the secondary key 36 in position.

The key base 61 separately and by itself constitutes a primary or construction key which, when positioned with the key tip 41 lodged in the keyway, will serve to actuate the lock unit. The key base 61 can be inserted and withdrawn easily and any number of times and can transmit torque to turn the plug and bar 17. The key tip'can remain in place without end'wise movement, being yieldingly restrained by the tumbler pins 29 and the springs 31. The installation of the key tip can be made by manually starting the tip into the keyway and then completing the sliding movement of the key tip in the keyway by then introducing the key base and having the surface 67 advance the surface 46 until such time as the parts are home.

The final location of these parts can be arranged in any one or more of several ways or all of the several ways simultaneously, providing manufacturing tolerances are close. The key tip 41 can be positioned in its extreme right- I hand location as seen in FIGURE 1 by having the point 68 of the key tip abut the disk 18 or the flange 16 if the disk 18 is not used.

The key base 61 may be provided in the bow portion with a shoulder 69 designed in one extreme position to contact the outermost face of the flange 12 on the plug 11. If the parts are precisely made, the contact between the portions 68 and 18, for example, and the shoulder 69 and the flange 12 can be substantially simultaneous. The

disk 18, for example, or the pin 19 form positive end stops. Alternatively, if the'springs 31 are relatively strong, the pointed tumbler pins 29 operating in the serrations of the key tip will serve yieldingly to hold the tip accurate-I ly in its extreme position. All of the various locating means can be used together, or any one or more can be used separately or in combination.

It is not necessary to utilize the key base 6 to position the key tip. Any instrument which will enter the keyway and abut an available part of the key tip to move it to its end position 'is satisfactory. The key tip when in place appears as it is shown in FIGURE 3. Also as shown in the broken lines in FIGURE 3, a standard secondary key 36 cannot then do more than barely enter the keyway since there is an obstruction furnished by the outward end of the key tip. Thus the key tip serves as a shut-out device for all but a key base or a special tool. If only the shutout feature is required, the key tip need not have serrations 44 but can have a straight edge. In this instance, the tumbler pins 29 do not act as yielding end stops.

When it is desired to condition the lock unit for operation by a standard secondary or permanent key, means are provided for removing the key tip. Especially as shown in FIGURE 6, there is provided a special tool in the form of an extractor 71. This is an integral body preferably fabricated of material such as stainless steel having a relatively high elasticity. The extractor isshaped at one end to provide a bow 72 comparable to the regular key bow. The extractor has a relatively straight guide portion 73 and also has a spring arm 74. The aggregate cross sectional shape of the portions 73 and 74 is substantially coming fit. The extractor cannot tip or cock in the keyway, but is confined to rectilinear translation in the direction of the axis 9. The spring arm 74 is in effect an integral leaf spring terminating at one end in a spring hook 76. The hook has a transverse surface 77 and an inclined or chamfered surface 78. Preferably, the spring arm 74 becomes thicker and stronger in a transverse direction as it approaches the key bow 72. This is because a notch 79 separating the parts is inclined to the axis 9. The width of the notch is greater than the depth of the hook 76.

When the extractor is introduced into the plug keyway, the bevelled or chamfered surface 78 rides upon a complementary chamfered surface 81 on the outermost end of the key tip. The tendency to force the key tip inwardly is resisted by the superior force of the springs 31 or by whatever end stop or stops may be used. The extractor is introduced substantially as far as it will go with the end of the hook 76 substantially abutting the surface 46. Since the extractor cannot move transversely, it is the function of the spring arm 74 to flex or yield laterally as the hook is lifted when the bevelled surfaces 78 and 81 ride over each other. In effect, the spring is bent or cocked. This reduces or substantially closes the outermost end dimension of the slot 79, but does not displace the portion 73 of the extractor since such portion rides snugly along against the upper surface 24 of the keyway or along the complementary ridges and grooves. As soon as the extractor has been fully inserted, the pre-stressed hook 76 springs downwardly, as shown in FIGURE 5, so that the straight surface 77 lies just behind the transverse surface 51 of the key tip.

When the extractor is then withdrawn along the axis 9, the key tip, being engaged, is withdrawn with it. Since both of the surfaces 77 and 51 are transverse, there is a firm interengagement made with no tendency to cam the spring arm out of the way because of resistance due to the tumbler pins rising against their springs and falling as the serrated or contoured portion of the key tip slides outwardly of the keyway. The key tip is thus removed from the keyway and can be manually grasped and taken away. This leaves the keyway completely free and open for the subsequent reception of the permanent secondary key 36.

By a reverse operation, at any time in the future it is desired to shut out the secondary or permanent key and again to make the lock unit responsive to a temporary primary key, the key tip can be reinserted and can subsequently again be withdrawn. This mechanism, therefore, does not require for its operation the mutilation or permanent deformation of any part and does not require any disposal means within the plug or cylinder body for a loose part. Also, the conversion from a primary to a secondary condition and back can take place any number of times with the plug and cylinder unit being unharmed and undisturbed.

While the extractor is preferably not provided with any contoured or serrated portions and does not itself properly align the initial tumbler pins, it can be so serrated if desired so that the extractor can also operate to complement the key tip and with it serve as a complete key. With this arrangement, each time the extractor is withdrawn, the key tip is withdrawn with it. In most cases, this is undesirable. It is therefore preferred to utilize a special primary key or key base, such as shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, which can be inserted, operated and withdrawn any number of times without in anywise disturbing the key tip. The extension 47 of the key tip serves not only as an entering guide and support for the primary key and serves not only to make sure the keyway is substantially occupied when the primary key is rotated, but also makes sure that the two key portions; that is to say, the key base and the key tip, do not tip or cock with re spect to each other. They are both confined laterally within the keyway. It is only the internal, lateral yielding motion of the spring arm 74 that accomplishes the interlock.

6 The closest references presently known to the applicants are as follows.

Roethlisberger, 1,696,326, Dec. 25, 1928 Ziegliss, 2,591,652, Apr. 1, 1952 Michnofl, 2,662,390, Dec. 15, 1953 Powers, 2,945,373, July 19, 1960 National Locksmith, September 1962, page 94.

What is claimed is:

1..-In alock unit, a plug provided with a keyway therein having a predetermined cross section defined by a plurality of longitudinal ridges and grooves, a key tip having a cross section complementary to said predetermined cross section whereby said key tip is confined to longitudinal translation in said keyway, a catch on and in longitudinal alignment with one end of said key tip within the confines of said predetermined cross section, an extractor having a cross section complementary to said predetermined cross section and defined by a plurality of longitudinal ridges and grooves whereby said extractor is confined to longitudinal translation in said keyway, means efltective in one position of said key tip in said keyway for holding said key tip against longitudinal translation in one direction, and means comprising a substantially longitudinal slot forming a spring hook on and in longitudinal alignment with the end of said extractor within the confines of said predetermined cross section and interengageable with said end catch when said extractor is translated .in said keyway in said one direction toward said key tip therein.

2. In a lock unit having a rotatable plug with a longitudinally extending keyway therein and a plurality of tumbler pins arranged in line along said keyway and movable transversely in said keyway, a key tip movable along said keyway, said key tip along one portion of its length having a contour to position at least one of said tumbler pins and having along another portion of its length a longitudinally extending, smooth first surface facing toward at least one other of said tumbler pins, a key base having a contour to position said other one of said tumbler pins and having a longitudinally extending, smooth second surface facing away from said other one of said tumbler pins and adapted to overlap and slide along said first surface, and means disposed Within the Width of said key tip and said key base and between the outer end of said key tip and the inner end of said key base for interlocking said key tip and said key base, said means comprising a notch in said key tip adjacent said first surface and a substantially longitudinal slot in said key base forming a spring hook adjacent said second surface.

3. For use in a lock unit having a plug rotatable about an axis and having a keyway extending along said axis, an extractor axially movable along said keyway and including a longitudinally extending blade-like guide portion having substantially the same width as said keyway and having one edge slidable along one Wall of said keyway and separated by a substantially longitudinal slot forming a transversely yieldable spring arm extending alongside of and substantially in the plane of said bladelike guide portion and terminating in a hook extending transversely of said axis in a direction away from said slot.

4. In a lock unit having a plug with an elongated keyway therein, a blade-like key tip movable along said keyway, interengaging means on said key tip and on said plug constraining said key tip against substantial transverse movement in said keyway, means forming a trausversely extending catch on the outer end of said key tip, and in the plane of said key tip a blade-like extractor body movable along said keyway and having a longitudinally extending slot therein, interengaging means on said extractor body and on said plug constraining said extractor body against substantial transverse movement in said keyway, a transversely extending hook, and'means for mounting said hook on the inner end of said extractor 7 body and in the plane of said extractor body for transverse movement into said slot and relative to said extractor body and said key tip for interengaging said catch and said hook whensaid extractor body overtakes said key tip within said keyway.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,368,630 2/ 1921 Hudy 70-400 X 1,696,326 12/ 1928 Roethlisberger 70428 1,728,310 9/ 1929 Sundel 70-428 8 Unterberg 70-428 Ziegliss 70395 Michinofl et. al. 70428 Powers 70395 Clark 29-278 X Russell et. a1. 70-428 X' Schlag e 2 70-383 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

10 EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A LOCK UNIT, A PLUG PROVIDED WITH A KEYWAY THEREIN HAVING A PREDETERMINED CROSS SECTION DEFINED BY A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL RIDGES AND GROOVES, A KEY TIP HAVING A CROSS SECTION COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID PREDETERMINED CROSS SECTION WHEREBY SAID KEY TIP IS CONFINED TO LINGITUDINAL TRANSLATION IN SAID KEYWAY, A CATCH ON AND IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT WITH ONE END OF SAID KEY TIP WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID PREDETERMINED CROSS SECTION, AN EXTRACTOR HAVING A CROSS SECTION COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID PREDETERMINED CROSS SECTION AND DEFINED BY A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL RIDGES AND GROOVES WHEREBY SAID EXTRACTOR IS CONFINED TO LONGITUDINAL TRANSLATION IN SAID KEYWAY, MEANS EFFECTIVE IN ONE POSITION OF SAID KEY TIP IN SAID KEYWAY FOR HOLDING SAID KEY TIP AGAINST LONGITUDINAL TRANSLATION IN 